Have I Found Dr. Right?

February is a time when people think about finding “the one.” Valentine’s Day causes us to evaluate the people in our lives and our relationships. Maybe it’s also a good time to ponder finding “Dr. Right.”

There are a lot of great doctors out there, but finding the right one for you can be difficult. A great way to start, as with any relationship, is to evaluate you and your needs.

1. What kind of doctor do you need? We all need a primary care physician, so let’s start there. Here’s a quick run down:
Pediatrician: Pediatricians specialize in the treatment of newborns, infants, children and adolescents. It is their role to plan and carry out a medical care program for children from birth through adolescence. They provide preventive health care as well as care for acute and chronic illness.
Adult Internal Medicine/Internist: Internal medicine doctors, internists, specialize in the study, diagnosis and treatment of non-surgical diseases in adult patients. An internist is trained to diagnose and treat complex illnesses, as well as manage the prevention of illness.
Med/Peds Physician: Doctors who specialize in internal medicine and pediatrics have completed a combined residency program in internal medicine and pediatrics. They are able to provide preventive care as well as care for the complex medical problems of adults and children.
Family Medicine Physician: Family medicine doctors provide continuing comprehensive primary care to your whole family. They deal mostly in an outpatient clinical setting. They see patients of all ages.

In addition, there are numerous subspecialists, but if you have a good, trusting relationship with your primary care physician she or he can put you in touch with a good specialist.

2. Make sure you doctor accepts your insurance. Insurance companies usually have a list of physicians who accept their insurance. If you are interested in a certain physician, contact their office and ask if they accept your insurance.

3. After you have some doctors in mind, it is a good idea to check their credentials. To practice medicine in the United States, doctors must be licensed by the states in which they work. However, being licensed does not indicate whether a doctor is qualified to practice in a specific medical specialty, such as family medicine, surgery or dermatology. One of the best ways to know if your doctor has the qualifications to provide care is to find out if he or she is Board Certified and participating in activities to stay up-to-date with the latest advances in medicine and patient care.

4. What characteristics are important to you in a physician? Are you a stickler for punctuality or do you prefer a doctor who takes more time with patients? Unfortunately, it’s difficult to have it both ways. Make a list of what is important to you in the patient/doctor relationship.

5. Other things to keep in mind when choosing a physician:
• The location of his or her office. Even if he or she is the best physician, do you have the time to drive to and from the medical office for scheduled appointments?
• With which hospital is your physician affiliated? If you were to be admitted to a hospital, is there one you would prefer? If so, make sure your physician has admitting rights there.
• You need to feel completely comfortable with your doctor, so if it’s easier for you to talk to a woman, seek a woman doctor. Do you want someone younger or someone older? The most important thing is for you to feel comfortable and open with talking to your physician.
• The entire medical team. A medical office is more than just a doctor. Is the office staff helpful? Are the nurses responsive? If you like the doctor but have problems with the team, talk to your doctor about it.

This is one of your most important relationships, so take it seriously. This is a person who will be there with you in sickness and in health.

Tagged as: physician, primary care and health care

Dr. Anita Varkey is medical director of the general medicine clinic at Loyola Outpatient Center at Loyola University Health System. Dr. Varkey is an internist, researcher and professor who specializes in primary care, preventive medicine and women's health. "TCWell" focuses on health and wellness issues.